Worthy of Note

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Feb 6, 1901

A heated debate is now in progress in the French Chamber of Deputies, over a government bill aimed at the Catholic orders. Papal influence has been brought to bear against it, and therefore the defenders of the Catholic orders are leading a strenuous opposition to the bill. In the debate on January 21, M. Waldeck-Rousseau, the premier, declared that “the bill would be a test point as to whether civil power or religious authority was to have supremacy.” He said it was necessary for the civil power to take back from these religious orders the privilege of teaching the children, because they had ever been seeking, from the beginning of the century, to bring about a counter revolution. “Never,” said he, “have they been more dangerous than they are now. They are trying to gain control of universal suffrage, and to that end they are creating a new electoral congregation; but we are tired of this slavery, and demand emancipation.”

The last report of the governor of Alaska includes a financial report from the clerk of the second district of the fees received in that district during the three weeks ending April 11, 1900. From this report it is seen that, while $45,410 was taken in from liquor licenses, only $11,579 was taken in from all other sources. This shows how the liquor trade of Alaska compares with other business in that district, and incidentally the result of the action of Congress in killing the prohibitory law of Alaska. The governor also declares that there has been much smuggling of liquors to be peddled out to the natives.

Rev. Edwin M. Bliss, in a recent article in the Independent, gives some interesting statistics in regard to the growth of religious bodies in the United States. According to the figures given, a most remarkable growth has been shown by the Christian Scientists. From a membership of 8,724 in 1890, their members have grown to 1,000,000 at the present time. What is more remarkable, according to this statement, their membership increased 920,000 during the year 1900. But this is doubtless largely a showing of former conversions in new organizations.

The relations between the United States and Venezuela have become more and more strained during the week. According to the press despatches, the matter has already assumed a grave aspect. The Venezuelan Government persists in its demands upon foreign business men and corporations, and has seized a number of steamers belonging to them. France, England, and America have war vessels in the vicinity, and the Navy Department at Washington is preparing to send other vessels if the situation grows more serious.

The Red Lantern Society is the name of a Boxer society of Chinese young women which has recently come to notice. The members of this society, after going thru certain rites, claim the power of spirit flight, in which they can go to any place or country, and, as spirits, work against the foreigners, or assist the Boxers in China when in battle with the foreigners. A girl who is about to “fly” simply goes into a trance and remains prostrated, sometimes for days at a time, without moving a muscle or speaking a word.

The act establishing the Department of Public Instruction for the Philippines was passed by the Philippine Commission on January 21. Two of the commissioners sought to have all religious teaching excluded from the schools, as they considered this would be in harmony with their instructions. As the act was finally passed, however, it permits religious instruction in the schools thrice weekly by priests or ministers, to pupils whose parents desire their children to receive such instruction.

Several members of the local W. C. T. U. of Wichita, Kansas, have been energetically wrecking the saloons of that place. Mrs. Nation, the leader of the anti-saloon forces, had been incarcerated some days ago for a raid upon a saloon, but as soon as released was joined by several others, and together they wrecked two saloons, and were attempting to enter a third when arrested. The women threaten to demolish every saloon in Wichita.

During the year 1899 the American Bible Society issued 1,406,800 copies of the Bible. During the eighty-four years of its existence, this society has sold 67,369,306 Bibles, including translations into 58 different languages. Many thousand copies of the Bible are now being circulated in Cuba, Porto Rico, and the Philippines, where their sale was formerly prohibited by the Catholic Church.

At a caucus of the Republican members of Congress held on January 18, it was decided not to take up further consideration of the Nicaragua Canal Bill until England has had time to consider and act upon the amended Hay-Pauncefote treaty.

The total value of exports from the United States for the year 1900, was $1,478,050,854, or $202,582,883 in excess of the record of 1899, which was the highest previous record.

The British Government has decided to send large re-enforcements to South Africa, and the War Office has begun the work of enlisting volunteers. It is reported from South Africa that General De Wet has crossed the Vaal, and joined forces with the Transvaal commandos. If correct, this means the concentration of about 7,000 men for an attack upon some British post. Martial law has now been proclaimed over nearly the whole of South Africa, including Tombuland, Griqualand East, and East and West Pondoland. More heavy guns are to be landed at the cape for use against the invaders. Skirmishes or small engagements continue, but the censorship of press despatches is so rigid that little is known of the present conditions in that part of Africa.

Reports from Europe indicate a decline in industrial prosperity. This is believed to be due to the increase of American manufactures and the fact that nations which had been buyers of manufactured articles in European markets are now manufacturing for themselves or buying from America. America’s entrance into the markets of the world is strongly resented by the European nations, and the talk of a European commercial combination against America is being revived. This commercial competition is adding to the feeling of bitterness between the nations, and is helping to ripen off the harvest of the world.

Half a million dollars was paid recently by the Bell Telephone Company for an invention of Dr. M. I. Pupin, in which ocean cables can be used for telephone purposes. The company has been investigating the claims of the inventor for the past year, and seems to have become convinced that telephoning under the ocean is possible and feasible. The invention consists of the insertion of re-enforcing coils at regular intervals along the cable. The invention will also be applied to land telephone lines, thus reducing materially the cost of long-distance telephone construction.

The new Naval Appropriation Bill was reported to the House on January 19, and an elaborate statement of its plans made by the chairman of the Naval Committee. The bill calls for an expenditure of $77,016,635, the largest amount ever reported to the House by the committee on naval affairs. The bill authorizes the building of two first-class battle-ships and two first-class armored cruisers, each of which is to have a displacement of 14,000 tons, with the most powerful armor and armament.

The Army Reorganization Bill passed the Senate on January 18. All attempts to prevent the increase of the strength of the army were defeated by a strong majority. During the last hours of the debate vigorous efforts were put forth to so amend the bill as to prevent the importation of all kinds of liquor into the Philippines; but the attempted amendments were voted down. The bill as passed prohibits the canteen in the army.

The cadets of the United States Military Academy belonging to all four of the classes have united in a notification to the superintendent of the academy to the effect that hazing will henceforth be discontinued by the students of that institution. This action of the cadets is a result of the vigorous investigation which has been carried on in the academy by the committee recently appointed by Congress.

The fire losses throughout the United States and Canada during the past twelve months amounted to $163,362,250. This, of course, includes only fire losses on property which was insured. It will be seen that the loss for the past year was much more than for the previous year, which amounted to $136,773,200; and this also shows a heavy increase over the fire losses of the year 1898.

Representatives of the Central Catholics, at a meeting in Manila on January 15, urged upon the Taft Commission the adoption of an amendment to the school laws providing for the exclusive employment of native and Catholic teachers in the schools of the Philippines. Judge Taft informed these representatives that the commission could not possibly adopt such an amendment.

A number of kidnappings have been reported as the result of the securing of the large sum of money by those who kidnapped the son of Mr. Cudahy. A case is reported from Georgia, in which a considerable sum of money was paid to the supposed kidnappers; but the child was not returned, and is still in the hands of his captors.

The number of marriages recorded in Indiana during the past year was 27,671, and the number of divorces granted was 4,699, or about one divorce for every six marriages. This high divorce rate is made possible by the peculiarity of the law of that State, which makes the securing of a divorce a very easy matter.

The riot at Corbin, Kentucky, which resulted in the killing of three persons, was taken in hand by the militia on January 18. Several arrests were made, and, although both factions are still under arms, it is believed that quiet has been restored.

The British cruiser Sybille was wrecked off the coast of South Africa on January 17. Her whole crew, with the exception of one man, was saved. This cruiser had been landing bluejackets to intercept the Boers.

Bishop Potter’s plan for the purification of New York City is being carried out in one regard, that is, in the creation of a vigilance committee to assist in the suppression of vice. The committee is now being formed, but the number of persons who will be placed upon that committee has not been announced.

The president of the Tobacco Trust announces that the sale of cigarettes has fallen off thirty per cent. during the last year. Governor McMillan, in his message to the Tennessee Legislature, recommended the enactment of the cigaret law, which has been declared constitutional on a technicality.

The pope has executed his political will, and delivered a sealed copy of the same to each of the cardinals who attended the reception at the Vatican. The seal of the will is not to be broken until after the pope’s death, and he says he has no reason to think that he will live beyond this year.

The information comes from South America that Chile had recently proposed to four other South American republics that they divide Bolivia between them. Peru promptly rejected the offer, and as a mark of her displeasure, requested Chile to withdraw her minister.

A despatch from China states that the dean of the diplomatic corps has received from the Chinese peace envoys the joint note signed by them. It is supposed that this document also bears the great seal of China, tho the fact is not stated.

Astronomers are now at work on the problem of the actual distance of the sun from the earth. The planet Eros and its orbit will be factors in the calculation, and therefore greater accuracy is expected in attaining the result sought.

Twenty-five persons lost their lives by the sinking of the British steamship Kaisari, near the island of Reunion, east of Madagascar, on January 12. The vessel was driven ashore in a hurricane.

The United States revenue cutter Grant is reported to have seized a British sloop in Puget Sound for violation of the smuggling law and the Japanese exclusion law.

The River and Harbor Bill, carrying an appropriation of nearly $60,000,000 for the rivers and harbors of the country, passed the House on January 16.

The British four-masted ship Mueltryvan foundered in the English Channel on January 20, and 11 of her crew were drowned.